Chapter 3

Woe to her who is filthy and polluted: Until now, Zephaniah was speaking of Ninveh, but now he refers to Jerusalem: Woe to her who is destined to be plundered and sullied like dung. It will be polluted with the filth of its iniquity.

filthy: as in (Lev. 1:16) “its crop” ; and (Nahum 3:6) “And I will make you like dung.”

the dove like city: Like a silly dove, without a heart.

2She did not obey, she did not accept reproof. She did not trust in the Lord. She did not draw near to her God.

The Lord is just: He caused His Shechinah to rest in their midst; therefore, He cannot look upon their evil deeds. He is just, and there is no injustice before Him.

He brings His judgment to light: He judges a true judgment to its absolute truth.

But the one who commits injustice knows no shame: But the unjust judges do not take it to heart, to be ashamed because of the Righteous One Who dwells among them.

6I have cut off nations; their towers have become desolate. I have destroyed their streets so that no one passes by. Their cities have become waste so that there is no man-so that there is no inhabitant.

I said, “Surely you will fear Me… and her dwelling shall not be cut off”: Her dwellings shall not be destroyed.

all that I ordained upon her: And all the good that I ordained to bring upon her shall not be cut off from her.

8Therefore, wait for Me, says the Lord, for the day that I will rise up to meet [with you]. For it is My judgment to assemble nations, to gather kingdoms, to pour out My fury upon them; yea, all the kindling of My wrath, for with the fire of My jealousy all the earth shall be consumed.

10From the other side of the rivers of Cush, My supplicants, the community of My scattered ones-they shall bring Me an offering.

ימֵעֵבֶר לְנַהֲרֵי כוּשׁ עֲתָרַי בַּת פּוּצַי יוֹבִלוּן מִנְחָתִי:

From the other side of the rivers of Cush: They will bring Me an offering.

My supplicants: those who pray to me.

the community of My scattered ones: The gatherings of My scattered ones, whom I scattered.

11On that day you shall not be ashamed of all your deeds [with] which you rebelled against Me, for then I will remove from your midst those who rejoice in your pride, and you shall no longer continue to be haughty on My holy mount.

Those who are removed from the appointed season: I destroyed those removed from My appointed seasons, those who did not keep the Sabbaths and the festivals.

I have destroyed: lit., I gathered in.

they were of you: They were of your people.

it was a burden of shame upon her: That guilt was a burden of shame to you.

Those who are removed: an expression of taking out, as in (Prov. 25:4) “Take away the dross from the silver”; and (II Sam. 20:13) “When he was removed from the highway.” The only radical letter is the “gimel.”

19Behold, I wreak destruction upon all those who afflict you at that time. And I will save the one who limps, and I will gather the stray one, and I will make them a praise and a name throughout all the land where they suffered shame.

Behold, I wreak destruction: Jonathan rendered: Behold I wreak destruction. It may also be interpreted as an expression of crushing, as in (Mal. 3:21): “And you shall crush the wicked.”

throughout all the land where they suffered shame: Every place where they were for their shame, there I will make them to be a praise and a name.

20At that time I will bring them, and at [that] time I will gather you, for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your captivities before your eyes, said the Lord.